PSL: Moonshine and honey ((For beeboy))

[alittlehinky]

Spring has just begun its work in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. The trees are dotted with bright little green leaves, paler and more golden than they will be in a few weeks, but unfurling bravely in still-chilly air to soak up the sun. The last real frost was only ten days ago, and the mornings are still so cold a person can easily see his breath. Honestly, this is Cricket's favorite time of year, even if his legs ache when he first gets up. It makes starting the fires under the stills a real pleasure, and tending them in the little hollow where the Bondurants have set up is warm and peaceful.

He's got his lunch in a tin bucket with him as he makes his way down the path into the hollow, leg braces clinking softly with every step. Here the forest is dense with brush, and the first wildflowers are starting to bloom; mostly wood sorrel, dandelions and violets. There's a natural rock cleft where the stills are placed, and the Bondurants have built a roof overtop of that, and covered it with moss and sod to create a little shack for their illicit activity. Vines hang down over the entrance to obscure that some, too. The chances of revenue agents finding it are pretty slim. They don't have the time to comb every square inch of mountain in search of these things.

But a person lost in these woods and looking for shelter overnight could certainly stumble across the shack, and it's a much better alternative to sleeping on the forest floor.

Comments

[alittlehinky]

Even if Hugh doesn't say so with sadness, Cricket can't help but squeeze his hand gently as if to reassure him. He remembers his mother, and he remembers losing her, and some days he's still not entirely over it. Hugh is a different person, so he may feel things differently, but Cricket has a tendency to quiet, stolid compassion that will not be denied.

"Sounds like it'd be scary at first," he says of the bees. "But maybe once you get used to 'em it's like having family."

...living in you stomach? Well. It's not a perfect analogy, but he means it kindly.

Coming up to the porch, Cricket studies Forrest's expression. He looks as calm as ever, betraying almost nothing. And Cricket knows perfectly well Forrest wouldn't hurt him, but he's still pretty intimidating sometimes. He's more used to being in his presence with the buffer of Jack there, which helps because Jack Bondurant is always in trouble, and Cricket rarely is, so Forrest's skepticism is usually not directed at him.

But okay. He can handle this.

"This is Hugh, Forrest," he says. "I kinda found him in the woods this mornin'. Reckon I'm planning to take him in. Uh...have you heard of any strangers around here? 'Cause there are some people after him and he don't wanna go back with 'em."

There. That's the important stuff out of the way. He'll just give that a minute to sink in before he broaches the whole 'bees inside him' topic.

[beeboy]

"Oh yes, that's exactly how it is," Hugh nods with a bright grin. "Like family!" The little insects definitely take care of him just as much, and there is something distinctly intelligent about them that goes beyond the average bee's capability. Perhaps it's something magical, or perhaps it's something that can be explained by their connection with the young boy. Either way, they certainly aren't ordinary bees.

And they're very much like family for him. At some point he really does need to sit and have a proper discussion with them about this arrangement, but for now he has to clear things with Cricket's friend -- or, is he his friend, exactly? Hugh watches the interaction between them with his head tilted slightly to one side. The man on the porch is almost like a bear, not just because of his physical stature, but also the way he speaks that single word. He is a bit intimidating, but Hugh keeps smiling all the same.

"Bad people," he adds with a nod, trying to be helpful. "I was hiding in the shack up there when Mr. Cricket found me."

He pauses for a moment, thoughtfully.

"And gave me some food." It seems important to share how much the young man has helped him. As though for emphasis, the two bees buzzing nearby dart around Cricket's head. It's not too out of the ordinary, so Hugh lets them continue that.

[middle_son]

Cricket is, in Forrest's not inaccurate estimation, more mature and responsible than his own kid brother Jack. They may be best friends, but Forrest tends to trust Cricket to be a good mediating influence on his brother's more harebrained ideas. But Cricket is young and Forrest can't help but think of him as still a kid. That he wants to take in an even younger kid is both admirable, and very likely just a little more than he should be responsible for alone.

Forrest considers all of this with a slow nod, gaze shifting from Cricket, to Hugh, and back. "'Spect you'll still be hungry, if y'shared breakfast." That's an offer, fairly clearly. Serving food is 75% of what they do at the waystation.

He sets the mending back in the basket, getting ready to lead them inside for second breakfast. "Ain't seen nobody yet. Haveta' put ears out, but if they ain't from around here y'can bet they won't go unnoticed." This last bit is really said for Hugh's benefit, to hopefully put his mind at ease a little. Cricket already knows that people in Franklin County distrust strangers on principle, and while that might not really apply to a child, it would sure as hell apply to a few adults scouring the neighborhood for somebody. They could easily encounter more than they bargained for, especially if they come around here. Hugh's assessment is not too far off, but an even more accurate one would paint Forrest as a Mama Bear. He is deeply protective of his family, and Cricket is part of that. Maybe somebody under Cricket's wing is, too.

He gets the screen door for them invitingly, and breakfast is over so there's no longer any guests besides them, but the scents of syrup and bacon and coffee still hang on the air.

[alittlehinky]

Bee family. Cricket smiles a little to himself at the thought of that. If they weren't already coming up in front of Forrest, he'd remark on the topic. If he's sort-of adopting Hugh, he's also sort-of adopting his bees. They can talk about that later, though. The important thing now is getting things clear with Forrest.

Technically, Cricket is still a bit of a kid. He's nineteen, and while people can and do get married and have children at his age, he's not exactly wealthy, and he's not the healthiest person, either. But Hugh could do a hell of a lot worse, too, and Cricket knows that as well as anyone.

"You know what, I am a little hungry still," he agrees with a little smile. He already anticipated Forrest would offer to feed them. "Is Miss Maggie here, or...?"

Better if she isn't. He didn't see her car in the lot, so maybe she went to get something. Cricket nudges Hugh ahead of him gently, hoping the two hovering bees will follow him so they don't get shut outside. "Only, Hugh's a little bit different, sir, and I think you're the one I need to talk to about that before anyone else hears it."

That's trust, and respect. If anyone will know what to do to best protect the kid and his bees, it's Forrest.

HOLY... I'm so sorry, you guys. It's been crazy, but I'm slowly trucking along!!

[beeboy]

While he's maintaining a bit of a shy distance, as soon as food's brought up, the boy perks up visibly. He really hasn't gotten enough to eat in a few days, and that combined with running amok in the woods on his own for a few nights has him pretty eager to take Forrest up on that offer.

Which means that when that door's opened, Hugh doesn't need too much coaxing after Cricket gently nudges him. He hesitates only a fraction of a moment or two and then he hops on in — bees in tow.

Hugh's looking around in interest, the shyness seeming to be steadily wearing off in favour of his usual chipper, curious self. It isn't hard to follow the smell of food and he's wandering right on into the kitchen. The two bees are buzzing around more loudly now as they flit around from place to place, exploring this new environment too. So many new places in one day... It's pretty exciting. He reckons the rest'll be waking up soon and want to explore too.

"Do you like bees, Mr. Forrest?" he asks, fueled by the wave of boldness, looking over his shoulder (and way up) at the man, flashing a smile. He's going to let Cricket explain the more complicated parts since he knows the other man, but... there's no harm asking that, right?